"So are you not going to tell your name?"


    His voice echoed once again from all directions, then his figure appeared in front of me. Seeing this I also cancelled the concealment of Panoply.


    "How about you start first, I am a bit shy as you can see."


    "Haha... I don''t mind."


    As he said those words his figure flickered as he vanished once again, but this time I was ready. Before he could let his hand phase through mine, I thrusted my sword toward his neck.


    Drip—


    Blood dripped from his neck while my left hand which looked fine but felt pain like never before.


    "Victor... that''s my name" He muttered as he shook his right arm covered in blood.


    I soon realized whose blood it was. He had tried to give me internal injuries, of course, he must have wanted to kill me at once but my reaction time was not letting him do so.


    Now is my chance.


    Before Victor could say anything else he stopped moving– His time had been stopped.


    "...Goodness, he gives me creeps."


    A crackling sound filled the surroundings, like a whip the sword moved swiftly toward Victor''s neck but the expected sound of snap never came.


    The sword passed through his body.


    My eyes widened, as I took a step back. I was sure he couldn''t move. How did he manage to evade this?


    Without wasting any time I ran away— My presence once again concealed.


    After some time Asher left, and Victor finally moved as he said.


    "Now tell me what''s your name— Eh?"


    Victor''s voice trailed off as he realized Asher had left, he looked around the roof in a stupefied manner.


    "Where did he go?"


    This time it was different, before Asher had disappeared he could have seen the process of gradually becoming one with his surroundings but now it was like no one was present here except him.


    A smile soon became visible on Victor''s face, and he once again flickered all over the rooftop, in hopes of finding any traces of Asher’s disappearance.


    He then stopped, using his clean hand he rubbed his chin for a moment looking around.


    "Interesting... It will be fun to play with you Ghost."


    At the center of the street lighting started to become visible as it roared upward trying to fill the sky. Seeing this Victor shook his head in disappointment and left.


    ********


    "Huff– I am not meeting that guy ever again."


    Taking deep breaths I rushed toward Temple, I had done better than I expected but still, the results were not as good as I expected them to be.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Arrogance was a Sin and without even knowing I was already filled with it.


    My left hand had already swollen quite a bit, the redness of it was already telling the tale of how reckless the attack was.


    But it was worth it.


    Without giving him any opportunity to attack he would have kept stalling for time, and I don’t want to know what would have happened if he had managed to do it.


    Soon the Temple finally became visible.


    Hopefully, someone could heal me, but I couldn''t expect much right now at this time of night.


    The door opened slowly with a creaking sound echoing in the empty hall. No one was present inside.


    Looking around the only light visible was of the stars hanging at the center illuminating everything in a serene glow.


    I was not a very religious person but even I could feel the divine nature of this place. Shaking off such thoughts I entered to the depth of here.


    Like the back of my hand, I knew where I needed to go. Slowly my steps led me to another corridor at the back of the hall.


    Scriptures and text were carved into the wall in white text, depicting the teaching of how to live. Surely many would never notice it or have time to read.


    Everyone was busy in their life, some wished to drag their life into oblivion while others hoped that their efforts would one day give them something they truly deserve.


    But that''s not the reason I have come here. Before I could reach the High Priestess office someone stopped me.


    "You came here earlier than expected." The man with frenzy green here studied me from head to toe. His eyes then stopped at my left arm as he nodded.


    "I can see what happened follow me."


    Without any other words, I followed Franz as he led me to the other side of the hallway. My steps followed him quietly, after reaching a room with a bed in it.


    "Uh.. Finally, something to sit on."


    "Now let me heal your arm first."


    Removing my mask I let him take my left arm as he studied it.


    "That''s weird... there is no injury from outside but it looks as if someone cut your arm."


    "It happened when I entered Phillips streets... a weird guy did this. Ouch!"


    My arms suddenly started to bleed as a cut was made upon them.


    "I can''t heal it from the outside, we will need to do it the old fashioned way."


    A small orb of yellow light floated around him as it touched my left hand, slowly mending it.


    Seeing the sudden warmth of them, I was left baffled but didn''t question him.


    After a bit of healing, he wrapped bandages on my arm, as blood continued to leak.


    "If the attacker had reached a bit deeper he could have broken your bones."


    Franz''s voice brought me back to reality as he tied the last knot of the bandage. I nodded in understanding, the pain was already starting to subside.


    "Anyway, tell me everything that happened now. How many did you manage to get rid of?"


    Franz had not followed him tonight, for various reasons. One he was lazy, second he was doing the night shift due to this guy''s audacity.


    These reasons may seem childish but it was his way of getting back at Asher for making him do overtime.


    I told him everything from the moment I encountered Victor to the point where I managed to escape.


    "I see... we have no idea about someone like him. How many did you get rid of."


    Franz was not expecting much, Asher surviving someone like him was already a blessing of Goddess.


    "Sixteen awakened and a dozen of awakeners I didn''t count them."


    "Sorry, what did you say? Can you repeat"


    "Uh Sixteen awakened—"


    Before I could continue Franz stood up from his seat shaking me left and right.


    "Did you get a head injury let me check quickly... We can heal it if we are quick."


    Franz''s voice was filled with excitement and a hint of disbelief as he grabbed my forehead and peered into my eyes, checking for any signs of concussion.


    My eyes twitched in annoyance as I slapped his hand away.


    "I am sure I did, so keep your hands to yourself."


    I pulled my hand away with a slightly annoyed look, which quickly turned into a wince as the pain shot up my arm.


    "Sixteen? That''s... incredible!" Franz''s voice was now a mix of amazement and skepticism. "How did you manage that?"


    I shrugged, trying to play it down. "It''s all in the timing. I just got lucky, I guess." But the pride in my voice was unmistakable.


    "Good work, Lady Morgana will come tomorrow morning. You can talk about other details with her. Do you plan to rest here tonight or go to your safe house?"


    The room was filled with silence as I contemplated my decision. Rest here and risk another encounter with Victor or leave now and face the unknown.


    "I will just stay here, going back now will gather suspicion from guards patrolling the city, just wake me up in the afternoon."


    "Alright."


    Franz nodded as he stood up and was about to leave.


    "Oh, also I think you should increase night duty in the city. Why are there no guards working properly?"


    Franz''s face twisted in visible frustration but he didn’t let it come to his face. Rather he nodded before saying.


    "I guess we should ask you to do it sometime as well."


    "I would have loved to, but sadly I don''t work for the Temple."


    With a voice full of sarcasm the night of dread has ended.